Surmising Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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surmising

[sษœหrหˆmaษชzษชล‹ ]

Definition

Context #1 | Verb

making an assumption

Surmising is the act of forming an opinion or making a guess based on incomplete or insufficient evidence. It often involves inferring information or drawing conclusions without having all the necessary data to support those conclusions. This term is frequently used when one is speculating about someone else's thoughts, feelings, or intentions. Surmising may also imply a degree of intuition or instinct that informs the guesswork involved.

Synonyms

assumption, guess, inference, speculation.

Examples of usage

  • She was surmising the reasons for his sudden silence.
  • He couldnโ€™t help but start surmising what would happen next.
  • The detective was surmising the suspect's motives.
  • After glancing at the table, she began surmising their conversation.

Translations

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Interesting Facts

Literature

  • Surmising often takes a central role in detective fiction, where characters must infer facts to solve mysteries.
  • Famous authors like Sir Arthur Conan Doyle and Agatha Christie used the technique of surmising to reveal plots and character motivations.

Science

  • In scientific research, forming hypotheses can be seen as a form of surmising, where researchers guess potential outcomes based on existing data.
  • Surmising is crucial in observational studies, where scientists must make educated guesses about behaviors or phenomena they cannot fully measure.

Psychology

  • The ability to infer or conjecture is linked to cognitive processes, such as critical thinking and perspective-taking.
  • Surmising can influence decision-making and biases, as people often rely on incomplete information to make assumptions.

Pop Culture

  • In many mystery films and shows, characters are often portrayed as experts in surmising, creating drama and tension as they piece together clues.
  • Reality shows often involve surmising about contestants' strategies and secret alliances, engaging viewers in the guessing game.

Origin of 'surmising'

Main points about word origin

  • The word comes from the Latin 'sur' (over) and 'mittere' (to send), which together suggest sending an idea or thought over your mind.
  • In Middle English, 'surmisen' meant to conjecture or suppose, showing how the meaning evolved over time.

The term 'surmise' originates from the Middle English word 'surmisen,' which means to suppose or conjecture. This, in turn, comes from the Latin 'submฤซฬ†sฤre,' meaning to put under or to suppose, formed from 'sub-' (under) and 'mittere' (to send). The term evolved through various forms as it entered the English language, carrying with it the essence of making speculative inferences. In literature, surmising has been commonly associated with activities such as investigation, mystery plots, and interpersonal dynamics, where characters are often required to fill in gaps in knowledge through deduction or intuition. Over the years, it has maintained its application in contexts that invite conjecture, speculation, and inference, integrating seamlessly into various domains of discourse.


Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,685, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.